Visual Communication

Jonathan Baldwin is the Associate Head of School of Art and Design, University of South Wales, Cardiff. He teaches and writes on issues related to popular culture, the media, graphic design and higher education and has experience working as a professional graphic designer and has contributed to many publications and conferences on art and design in higher education. Lucienne Roberts established the design studio sans+baum after a brief period at The Women's Press, hoping to ally a commitment to accessible and engaging design with a socially aware agenda. Roberts' new studio LucienneRoberts+ started at the end of 2006. Roberts was a signatory of the First Things First manifesto, has taught at Yale and the London College of Communication and was a D&AD judge in 2008. She is a regular contributor to Eye magazine and Grafik.

How to use this book
The Theory
Foreword: Isn't design simply all about 'the visual'?
The Practice
Foreword
Chapter One: Communication
Aims of chapter 1
The Theory
Introduction: Even natural processes have explanations
Communication as a process
Semiotics
All design is political: part one
Afterword: No more rules?
The Practice
Introduction
Neville Brody
Michael Bierut
Questions in summary
Chapter Two: Culture
Aims of chapter 2
The Theory
Introduction: Everyday visual communication
What is culture?
All design is political: part two
Style and identity
Afterword: 'Meaningful' is not the same as 'full of meaning'...
The Practice
Introduction
Joan Farrer
Shin Azumi and Tomoko Azumi
Questions in summary
Chapter Three: Conflict
Aims of chapter 3
The Theory
Introduction:
Form versus function: Styling as communication
All design is political: part three
The political designer
Design under threat?
Afterword: Beneath the surface
The Practice
Introduction
Erik Spiekermann
Emmi Salonen
Questions in summary
Design/photography biographies
Bibliography
Index
Credits